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Not every work situation is an opportunity to show off how smart you are, and in some cases it's actually better to play stupid, Megan Hustad writes. For instance, asking dumb questions during negotiations can help produce better answers. "Those of us who don't feel the urge to make sure everyone in the room understands, at every available opportunity, just how smart we are might do best of all," she writes.

Related Summaries

Just dropping off resumes at a career fair isn't likely to be a successful strategy, experts say. It's better to research employers beforehand so you will be ready to ask them questions and explain how you can help them.

While compensation is important in retaining recruiters, they also need motivators such as training, growth opportunities and mentoring, Michael Gionta writes. "Investing in your people shows them you care about them and their progress," Gionta writes.

Josh Hartwell, the founder of Mobile Deluxe, explains in this article how having strong relationships helped him build his company without outside funding. "Make it a practice early on not to just focus on the people with whom you're comfortable. Find out about other types of people and how to have relationships with them," he writes.

To find out whether a company offers work-life balance, ask current employees about hours worked, travel requirements and how much they work on weekends, Joyce E.A. Russell writes. "Anyone can work extra hours occasionally -- what you are trying to learn is how much of this is regular, everyday life," she writes.

Those new to corporate life should be aware of the dynamics of office meetings, such as how to ask a question appropriately, Dan McCarthy writes. "A stupid question will make you look stupid, no matter what they tell you. A single good question, on the other hand, can make a good first impression," he writes.